March29, 2017

WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement on the Senate vote ratifying Montenegro’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO):

“Yesterday’s Senate vote helps clear the way for Montenegro’s membership in NATO. This is great news for Montenegro and for the alliance. This vote demonstrates that Senators from both parties reject the ludicrous idea that NATO is ‘obsolete.’ On the contrary, the alliance is critical for protecting the United States and our allies from Putin’s aggression.

“NATO’s open-door policy allows the alliance to thrive and adapt to new challenges, and it’s the model NATO should continue to follow in the future. Now that Montenegro is on the path toward full NATO membership, I hope that all the other Balkan countries will have the opportunity to join the alliance as well.”